In June, JetBlue Airways ordered 100 Embraer 190 airliners with deliveries starting in third quarter 2005. The airline also took options on 100 additional Embraer 190s. The total value of the firm contract at list price is $3 billion, with a potential value of more than $6 billion if all options are converted. With this order, JetBlue becomes the launch customer for this 100-seat model of the Embraer 170/190 family. JetBlue will outfit the aircraft with leather, four-abreast seating at a 32-inch pitch with its signature DirecTV satellite television in every seat.
StarPort Cambata Aviation International at Florida's Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) has been appointed a Cessna Caravan factory authorized service center. StarPort is a full-service FBO with a state-of-the-art facility. Its Web site is www.starportusa.com.
Boeing subsidiaries Jeppesen and Alteon have signed a joint marketing agreement to broaden the training options offered by Boeing Flight Services. Jeppesen offers aircrews and flight management personnel courses in human factors, basic and advanced flight operations management and international flight planning. Alteon offers pilots, technicians and cabin crews training for 100-plus seat aircraft through classroom training, computer-based programs and flight simulators.
Carter F. Dosso, chief pilot and aviation manager for Vallejo Investments, Inc. (San Francisco), died on April 2 at the age of 59. He entered corporate aviation in the mid-1970s with View Top Corp. at West-chester County Airport (HPN), later flying for Forbes magazine prior to working for Vallejo Investments, where he worked for the past 17 years, most recently operating a Boeing 727-100REW internationally.
John Pasciutti, chief pilot for Group Holdings, Inc. (Fort Worth), died on April 2. He was involved in corporate aviation for 16 years after retiring from the U.S. Air Force.
Fractional provider Flight Options announced that Raytheon Aircraft Services is now the company's preferred supplier for aircraft maintenance to the entire Flight Options fleet. Raytheon holds a significant portion of Flight Options.
A new tax seminar on air charter operations, co-sponsored by B/CA and Conklin & de Decker, will be held in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 3-4. The seminar will help attendees determine which taxes and fees apply, and how best to manage tax compliance and the tax impact on company cash flow. The seminar fee is $995 per person, with discounts available for National Air Transportation Association members and groups. For more information, contact Nel Sanders-Stubbs at (480) 922-8110, or at [email protected].
Concerned about losing your job to a fractional ownership provider? ChiefPilot.com has introduced a unique online subscription tool to help pilots understand and advocate the advantages of full aircraft ownership over fractional ownership programs. Designed to bridge the gap between pilots and company accountants, there is no need to learn complicated new software or to download future updates. This online tool analyzes the net present value of any four what-if scenarios, then illustrates the normalized equivalents in a graphic comparison.
FirstFlight Management, Horseheads, N.Y., has appointed Chalna Trawick director of charter sales -- Allentown, Pa. Her prior position was with East Coast Jets in Allentown.
Gwendolyn O. Mayo, founder and chairman of Mayo Aviation in Denver, received the William A. Ong Award, named in honor of the National Air Transportation Association's cofounder and first president, on May 13. Mayo was recognized for her contributions and service to the general aviation industry.
Bombardier has sold its Military Aviation Services (MAS) unit to Spar Aerospace, a subsidiary of New York-based L-3 Communications Corp., for $90 million. L-3 purchased Spar in 2001. MAS was earmarked for divestiture as part of Bombardier's recapitalization program announced on April 3. MAS employs approximately 950 people and provides maintenance, repair, overhaul and a full range of technical services for military aircraft, from systems engineering to aircraft modification, and generated revenues of approximately $91 million in fiscal year 2003.
Atlantic Aviation Flight Services, Teterboro, N.J., appointed Thomas Falco as its new director of maintenance. Falco comes to the position with 16 years of corporate aviation experience.
Torch, The other day as I drove away from ``the service,'' one that most certainly met with your approval . . . including weather that the Lord uses on his ``A'' days . . . my spirit was suddenly jolted by the stark realization of why you lived! Oh, I know that God, family, a good story and a better brew with skirts are important -- but I am talking about the real reason . . . BusinessAviation, right? (One word please.) The honest-to-God connection hit me as I reflected over the years this morning at the service. The priest, the general, the editor, the wife . . .
Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services has been nationalized, sparking strong protest about unfair competition from the British regional airline Flybe. The state acquisition came after British Airways announced its intention to pull out of its London-Gatwick to Guernsey service. With the financial backing of the state of Guernsey, Aurigny plans to operate an ATR 72 on the route. The takeover surprised Flybe, which has provided air services to the Islands, near France's Cherbourg peninsula, for the last 25 years under the names Jersey European and British European.
The private sector is becoming dangerously exposed to terrorist attacks, but too many companies in Europe are complacent about the threat, according to a British security specialist.
The DOT has named American Airlines executive Russell Chew to serve as the FAA's chief operating officer. In his new capacity, Chew will manage the operational and financial performance of the air traffic control system and the FAA's research and acquisition programs. The position has been vacant for three years. Chew has spent nearly two decades with American Airlines, serving as a line-qualified captain, managing director of strategic operations planning, and manager of technical flight operations and systems support technologies.
Bloomer deVere, Los Angeles, has added Geoffrey Nye to its sales force. He comes to the company with 20 years at Bombardier Business Aircraft; he concluded his tenure there as a regional vice president.
ARINC, Annapolis, Md., has appointed Richard A. Hoad to the position of senior director, sales and marketing for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Hoad will be based at the company's offices in Crawley, England.
``There isn't as much competition in Europe, and rates are generally higher there for everything, anyway. So this can surprise some North American operators flying over here,'' Dan Maiden, managing director of Bombardier Aerospace's Skyjet-Europe charter booking service, told B/CA from his office in London. And charter is no exception. ``There is a disparity in Europe in terms of buying charter,'' Maiden continued, ``widely varying aircraft types and cost. For example, there is a huge supply in Germany of midsize aircraft, but not a large supply of large ones.
Reports filtering in from business aviation operators in the last few months warn of noticeable increases in handling charges, taxes and fees associated with intra-European operations. These combine with complaints of ``sticker shock'' from neophyte international operators making their first forays onto the Continent in a wave of business aviation activity driven by security concerns in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks. ``The amount of transatlantic traffic is increasing . . .
Bombardier Inc. announced the sale of Belfast City Airport on May 23 to Ferrovial of Spain, for some $22 million. The divestiture is part of Bombardier's recapitalization program, announced this past April. The airport formerly was a subsidiary of the aircraft manufacturer Short Brothers, which was purchased by Bombardier in 1989 and is now integrated into Bombardier Aerospace. Bombardier also has a manufacturing operation in Belfast that employs 5,700 people, and which plays a major role in the design and manufacture of Bombardier regional and business aircraft.
Aviation Supplies and Academics' Flight Timer chronometer is ergonomically designed for reliability and convenience. The Flight Timer features a large back-lit LCD screen, count-up/down capabilities, multifunction timer, elapsed trip timer and an exclusive digital notepad for squawk codes or frequencies. Price: $49.95 ASA 7005 132nd Pl. SE Newcastle, WA 98059 Phone: (800) 426-8338 Fax: (425) 235-0128 www.asa2fly.com
Duncan Aviation, Battle Creek, Mich., has added Scott Brooks to its avionics installations sales team. Brooks has more than 20 years of corporate aviation experience and has held positions with Learjet and Universal Avionics, among others. In addition, Duncan Aviation has promoted Doug Bohac to paint shop manager of the company's exterior completions service group in Lincoln, Neb.
Boeing says advanced composite materials will compose the majority of the primary structure of its new 7E7 -- including the wing and fuselage. The company said following months of intensive study and analysis, it has selected a graphite combined with a toughened epoxy resin as the main composite. The wings will also include TiGr composites -- a combination of titanium and graphite. Titanium is a strong metal known for its light weight and durability. Graphite is a stable form of carbon.
